Method of and apparatus for sorting cards



March 4, 1941.

E. G. HARRISON, JR 7 2,233,814 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARDS Filed June 5, 1939 e Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORr' ATTORNEY S.

March 4, 1 1. E. G. HARRKSON, JR

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1939 March 4, 1941. E. e. HARRISON, JR I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARDS Filed June 5, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR,

MAW-09), ATTORNEYS.

March 4, 1941 E. G. HARRISON, JR

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 5, 1939 et/A 242M? INVENTOR, .r rzrrw son/Ozq WMAMQQ,

ATTORNEY5.

March 4, 1 E. e. HARRISON, JR

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARDS 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 5, 1939 INVENTOR,-

I M LQQA),

ATTORNEYS @duu/ru .5414 W E. G. HARRISON, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CARDS March 4, 1941.

Filed June 5, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 l r UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcs METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SORTIN CARDS Edwin G. Harrison, Jr'., Nutley, N. J., assignor to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia.

Application June 5, 1939, Serial No. 277,340 24 Claims. (01. 209- 72) This invention relates to an improved method by a second arm engaging said opposite side edge of sorting cards or other flexible sheets and to portion of the sheet, such arms in the arrangeimproved means for carrying out the method, merit shown being moved into and out of operatogether with an improved form of card or other tive sheet pressing position in timed relation to piece of sheet material for use in the practice the movement of the sheets into the machine. 5 of the method of sorting. The arrangement is In the arrangement shown, the sheet forwarding such that my improved machine can be Opermeans is operated likewise in timed relation to ated in connection with a duplicating machine the feeding of the sheets into the machine. In or other source of copy sheets for sorting the the construction illustrated, the deflected front in sheets and distributing them into a considerable edge portions of the sheets are brought back into number of trays or other suitable receivers ready alignment with the bodies of the sheets, after for convenient and quick handling. the critical selection point of the movement has In the practice of my invention in the pre- 7 been passed, by means of roller brushes which ferred manner as disclosed, where the sheets are engage the faces of the sheets, the brushes being if) received from a duplicating machine or other preferably in the form of wooden rollers each suitable source, the sheets or cards are prelim- Covered by a layer of clo h h as p h having inarily slitted at their leading edges before being heavy p Which has sufiicisht strength f r fed to the duplicating machine, the slits in the i n about th desired i i n f h edges several sheets being differentially located trans- Of he hee s a ng the prescribed p t ou versely of the sheets according to the particm being so stiff as to tear or otherwise deface the 20 tray or other receiver into which any given sheet, sheetsis to be directed. Means is provided in the n e arrangement w the f rs are sorting mechanism for spreading the portions of aligned accurately w pect to each other the sheet forwardly and backwardly at opposite transversely of the machine e y s e, b t

, 5 sides of the slits against the inherent resiliency y are i d slightly with respect to the of the sheet material, the sheets being presented broadened plate extensions s at e mane in such spread condition to a series of fingers arof each of the fingers s in angular relation ranged in spaced relation to each other transto the line of fil'lgerss e s he fi gers to versely of the path of movement of th h t stand in spaced face to face relation to each The construction is such that the sheet portion other at a point a s t ta se f om the ends 30 directly at the inner end of the slit is caused 0f the fingers, all Which POiht y a b oadto pass between two adjacent fingers, after tried out o as o ve ap to a slight de ee- The which the spread portions-of the sheet are pressed Plate Portions forming e b om extensions of back into substantial alignment with the body the fingers a e arranged substantially parallel of the sheet so as to enable the sheet to pass with each other, being spaced forwardly and 35 smoothly and easily along, guided by the finger backwardly of the machine as distinguished from which are broadened out transversely into the the upper end portions of he fingers which are form of broad plates for leading the sheet to the in transverse alignment W t each other. individual tray for whichvit is intended. The My improved method Comprises the prelimdetermination as to which two fingers shall reihary step of slitting a plurality of s eets dif- 40 ceive the sheet between them is controlled by ferentially, and then s je t ng the sheets to the location of t 111; in t leading edge f pressure by which the sheet portion at one side the sheet, with the result that all of the sheets of the Slit is Pressed into angular DOSi iOn With having slits similarly located in one position are rashest the sheet Portion a he Opposite side u t d in one t y, ,11 th h t having um of the slit, so as to enable me to cause the sheets 45 similarly located in a second position are colmove through different paths po d g lected in a, second tray, and so on throughout t0 the varied DOSltiOIlS 0f the slits in the difthe range of differentially located lit ferent sheets, the deflected sheets portions being In the arrangement illustrated in my drawings, preferably pressed back into substantially t eir 50 the differentiallyv slitted leading edge portions normal positions in alignment With e dy o -50 of the sheetsare ressed forwardly at one side t sh t as s n as the s le t n f e p th of the slit by an arm engaging the sheet near for the sheet has been effected. The sheet is the corresponding side edges of the sheets, the thus caused to pass smoothly and evenly along leading edge portion of each sheet at the oppothe path provided by the fingers.

5 siteside of the slit being pressed backwardly It is another object of my invention, to int-F prove machines and devices and methods of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an end view of a preferred form of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a view of the machine as seen from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken upon an enlarged scale at the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of one of the trays in relation to the adjacent fingers and connected plates;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top face view of a small pack of cards or sheets, bro-ken away at one end and spread into overlapping relation to show the differential positioning of the slits in the sheets;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the connection between two operating shafts for causing them to rotate together;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially at the line 'l--1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a fragmentary portion of the machine as seen from the right in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken sub-' stantially at the line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 9 but showing a sheet in changed position in its movement through the machine;

Fig. 11 is a perspective diagrammatic view showing a plurality of fingers with a sheet in its spread condition at about the start of the movement of the sheet between two of the fingers;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the sheet in a slightly farther advanced position;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken at the line Iii-l3 of Fig. 11;

Figs. 14 and 15 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively at the line I I-M and the line l5-l5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a perspective diagrammatic view showing a sheet being spread at its leading edge portion for effective engagement with the fingers for enabling them to make the desired selection of the path which the sheet shall follow;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view showing the.

condition of the parts when the sheet has advanced very slightly beyond the position illustrated in Fig. 16;

Fig.- 18 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially at the line lB-IB of Fig.20, showing the relation of the parts before the leading edge portions of the sheet are spread in opposite directions;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 but showing the spreading arms active with relation to the sheet and also showing the guiding fingers in addition to the parts illustrated in Fig. 18, the showing being substantially a section at the line [9-49 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view taken sub stantially at the line 20-20 of Fig. 18; and

Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional view taken substantialiy at the line 2l-2l of Fig. 19.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 25 indicates a framework comprising at each end of the machine a plurality of upright frame bars 26, 21, 28 and 29 which in the arrangement shown are connected rigidly together by means of cross bars 33. In the arrangement shown, the bars at opposite ends of the machine are rigidly connected together by means of brace rods 3!, as is best shown in Fig. 2.

Upon the framework above described, I have removably mounted a series of trays 32, such trays being obliquely disposed, with part of the trays extending toward the front, and part of them extending toward the rear, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each of the trays is removably mounted in position by means of fiat arms 33 extending from the ends of the trays (see Fig. 2) into position to engage obliquely disposed notches in the upright frame bars of the machine.

At their upper ends, the frame bars 21 and 28 are provided with end plates 34, with brace rods 35 connecting the plates for giving the framework the required rigidity (see Fig. 2). per ends of the end plates 34 are also rigidly connected together by means of 'a transversely positioned plate 36 standing in substantially vertical position, as is best shown in Fig. 3, with reinforcing flanges 37 at opposite ends of the machine. In front of the plate 36, (at the left in Fig.1) I have provided a table 38 adapted to receive a pile of cards or other pieces of sheet material thereon. As is, best shown in Fig. 3, the rear edge portion of the table 38 is turned downwardly in the form of a flange 39 in forwardly spaced relation to the plate 36 so as to enable an operator to insert a sheet between the table and the plate 36.

The up- Between the flanges 3'! of the plate 36, I have mounted a bar 48 upon which I havemounted brackets 4! which are slidable longitudinally of the machine. As is best shown in Fig. 3, the brackets 4.! extend toward the front over the plate 36, being provided at their forward end portions with margin bars 42 which in adjusted position along the plate 36 determine the point at which sheets are to be fed into the machine.

Below the table 38 and the vertically disposed plate 36, I have rotatably mounted a roller 43 having a metal surface and a roller ie-having a sponge rubber facing, such rollers being in 00- operative relation to each other, as is clearly shown in said Fig. 3. Above therollers 43 and 44, I have provided guide plates 45 and 45 which are in position to guide a sheet of paper moving shown in Fig. 13. The fingers 48 are broadenedv out slightly at a fairly short distance from their upper ends so as to cause the fingers to stand in overlapping relation, as is clearly shown in igs. 11 and 15, for example, the fingers at their overlapping portions being in spaced face to face relation, as is best shown in Fig. 15. At still lower points, the fingers 48' are provided with downward extensions in the form of broad plates 49, the plates 49 being also in spacedface to face relation to, each other. For enabling the upper end portions of the fingers (*8 to stand in exact alignment side by side. with respect to each other, while the plate portions 49 extend directly across longitudinally of the machine/the fingers are twisted slightly, asis best indicated in Figs. 13.

machine.

and 14. As is best shown in Fig. 3, the lower ends of the plates 49 lead to trays 32, some of such plates 49 being bent forwardly and some of them being bent backwardly, as shown in said Fig. 3, for securing the desired result.

For enabling a bunch of sheets to be sorted in my machine, I provide each of the sheets with a slit 59 in its edge as indicated in Fig. 5, the several sheets as illustrated in said figure being indicated by the numeral The sheets 5| are slitted differentially with respect to each other, the spacing between the different positions of the slits as illustrated in Fig. 5'corresponding with the transverse spacing of the fingers 48 of the The arrangement is such that when a sheet 5| is fed downwardly between the table 38 and the plate 36 the slit 50 in the leading edge of the sheet will be positioned transversely of the machine at a point substantially midway between the end portions of two adjacent fingers 48. For accomplishing this purpose, it is necessary that the margin plates 42 be positioned accurately longitudinally of the rod 40 upon which the carrying brackets 4| are mounted.

In my improved machine, means is provided for spreading the leading edge portions of the sheet with respect to each other as the sheets approach the line of fingers 48. In the arrangement shown,

the portion of the sheet at one side of the slit is pressed forwardly and the portion at the opposite side is pressed backwardly. This is accomplished in the arrangement shown by two arms 52 and 53 (see Fig. 3) which are mounted upon brackets 54 carried by shafts 55 and 56 rotatably mounted between the end plates 34 of the machine. At the near end of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, the shafts 55 and 58 are provided with arms 51 and 58 respectively fixedly mounted in position, the outer'ends of said arms being pivotally connected together by means of a link 59, the arrangement being such that upon rotary movement of one of the shafts in one direction the other shaft is given a rotary movement in the opposite direction. At the opposite end of the machine (see Fig. 8), the shaft55 is provided with an arm 60 fixedly mounted thereon, such arm being provided with a link extension 6| which in turn is provided with an actuating member 62 extending into the path of a pin 53 carried by a gear 54 fixedly mounted upon a shaft 65 extending lengthwise of the machine with a crank handle'65 on its outwardly extending end portion for rotating the shaft. The arrangement is such that at one point in the rotation of the gear 54 the pin 53 by engagement with the operating member 52 rotates the shaft 55 in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 8 (in clockwise direction in Fig. 3) for swinging the arm 52 toward the left into position beneath the roller 44. The arrangement of the link 59 and its cooperating parts at the opposite end of the machine at the: same time causes the arm 53 to swing in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3 so as to extend underneath the roller 43. The shaft 55 in the construction illustrated is provided with a coiled spring 61 normally holding the shaft 55 in the position as shown in Fig. 3.

Below the rollers 43 and 44 at opposite sides of the row of fingers 48, I have mounteda pair of rollers 68 and 69, each of which in the construction illustrated comprises a'bar of wood covered by a facing of plush. The roller 69 is mounted upon a fixed axis between the plates 34, while the roller 68'is rotatably mounted between two pivotally mounted arms 19 which are'pressed by coiled springs toward the right in Fig. 8 for causing the rollers 68 and 69 to have cooperative relation to each other. In the arrangement shown, the roller 59 is provided with a pinion 12 which meshes with an idler pinion 13 which in turn is driven by the gear 54 so as to cause the roller 69 to rotate in clockwise direction in Fig. 3 when the gear 64 is driven in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 8. In the construction illustrated, the sponge rubber roller 44 also is provided with a pinion 14 which meshes with an idler pinion 15 which also is driven by the gear 64. The metal roller 43 is driven by friction from the roller id. The plush covered roller 63 is drivenby friction from the roller 69 by means of a driving member 16 of rubber on the roller 59 engaging a reduced portion 11 of the roller 58, as is clearly shown i'nFig. 16.

Means is provided in connection with the gear 64 for stopping the gear at the end of each complete revolution. This means in the arrangement shown (see Fig. 8), comprises a block 18 adjustably mounted upon the gear 64 adapted to be brought into engagement with a pin 19 removably mounted in the table 38 when the gear reaches the position as shown in said figure. When the rotation of the shaft 65 is to be renewed, the pin 19 is drawn upwardly by the operator through the instrumentality of a head 89 on the pin so as to permit the block 18 to pass readily to be engaged at the end of another complete revolution.

With the parts in the arrangement as shown in Fig. 3, and with the forward rotation of the gear 64 limited by the engagement of the block 18 with the pin 19 as shown in Fig. 8, a sheet 5| is inserted by the operator between the table 38 and the plate 35, being positioned lengthwise of the machine by the margin bars 42 as above described. As soon as the sheet has been brought to rest by engagement with the rollers 43 and 44, the operator withdraws the pin 19 and rotates the shaft 65 in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 8, or clockwise direction in Fig. 1, so as to draw the sheet 5| downwardly between the rollers 43 and 44. The arrangement of the parts is such that as the sheet 5| begins to move downwardly the arms 52 and 53 are swung through the action of the pin 63 and its cooperating parts into engagement with the front edge portions of the sheet 5| so as to press the portion at one side of the slit 59 forwardly through the action of the arm 52 and to press the portion of the sheet at the opposite side of the slit backwardly through the action of the arm 53 so as to spread such portions into substantially the position as shown in Figs, 16, 17 and 19. This action carries one portion of the leading edge of the sheet on one side of the line of fingers 48, as shown in Figs. 13 and 17, and carries the other portion of the sheet into position at the opposite side of the line of fingers. As the sheet continues its downward movement as shown in Fig. 11, the body of the sheet beyond the inner end of the slit 50 is carried into the space between two adjacent fingers 48. As will be readily understood, the determination as to which of the spaces between successive fingers is occopied by the body of the sheet is controlled by the position of the slit 50 transversely of the sheet. That is to say, when the sheets 5| as shown in Fig. 5 with the slits 59 differentially positioned transversely of the sheets, are fed into the machine, each successive sheet is fed into a different one of the spaces between successive fingers, since each successive sheet'in the pack as illustrated in Fig. 5 is slitted at a different point from that at which the adjacent sheet is slitted.

After the sheet has progressed to the point as shown in Fig. 11, with the body of the sheet definitely in position in a selected one of the spaces between the fingers 48, the deflected forward edge portions of the sheet must be pressed back substantially into alignment again with the body of the sheet so as to enable the sheet to pass smoothly and easily between the fingers and later between the plates 49 for delivery to the selected one of the trays 32. This result is effected by the plush covered rollers 68 and 69 which have a brushing effect upon the sheets for forcing them into the bite of the rollers for insuring easy forward movement of the sheets along the selected pathways.

In the preferred embodiment of my improved machine, the sheets 5! are to be fed to the rollers 43 and 44 as they come from a duplicating machine or other suitable source. In such case, the sorting mechanism is to be operated in timed relation to the delivery of the sheets by the duplicating machine, so as to make it unnecessary for an operator to release the pin '19 upon successive rotations of the shaft 65.

I have found by the use of my improved machine that it is very effective for sorting sheets into a selected number of piles or packs in accordance with a differential slitting of the corresponding edge portions of the sheets. I have found that the machine can be operated rapidly and effectively by ordinarily skilled operators with no special training with respect to such operation.

. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be taken merely as illustrative of one form of the invention and that the invention is not to be limited to the arrangement shown except as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made in the arrangement and form of the from my invention.

I claim:

1. The method of sorting pieces of sheet maparts without departing in terial having slits diiferentially arranged in their edges, comprising pressing the portions of the sheets at one sideo-f said slits into changed angular position with respect to the portions at the opposite side of the slits, and then directing the sheets along diiferent paths of movement corresponding to the varied positions of said slits.

2. The method of sorting pieces of sheet material, which comprises the preliminary step of slitting the sheets at corresponding edges, then pressing the portions of the sheets at one side of said slits into changed angular position with respect to the portions at the opposite side of the slits, and then directing the sheets along different paths of movement corresponding to the varied positions of said slits.

3. The method of sorting pieces of sheet ma.-

I terial having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising pressing the side portions of the sheets in opposite directions at opposite sides of said slits, and then directing the sheets along pass on diverting the sheets from said common path to a plurality of difierent paths with all similarly slitted sheets passing along the same tions at the opposite side of the slits, and present- I ing said sheets with differentially angled portions to a series of spaced fingers which have differential engagement with the sheets depending on the varied positions of the slits so as to direct the sheets along different paths with all similarly slitted sheets passing along the same path.

6. The methodv of sorting pieces of sheet ma terial having slits differentially. arranged in their edges, which comprises feeding said sheets for-' wardly along a common path, pressing the portions of the sheets at one side of said slits into changed angular position with respect to the portions at the opposite side of the slits, presenting said sheets having differentially angled portions to a series of spaced fingers which have differential engagement with the sheets depending on the varied positions of the slits, and then pressing said angled portions of the sheets back substantially into their initial aligned position with respect to the body of the sheet for causing the sheets to pass smoothly between the fingers so as to be directed along different paths of movement.

7. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet ma terial having slits difierentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, and means adapted by differential engagement with said differently slitted sheets to direct the sheets along different paths of movement.

8'. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits diiferentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus with the slitted edges of the sheets in the lead, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to angle the portion forwardly at one side of the slit and to angle the portion backwardly at the opposite side of the slit, and means adapted by diiferential engagement with the angled portions of the differently slitted sheets to direct them along different paths of movement.

9. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, and a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by diiferential engagement therewith to direct the diiferently slitted sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers. I

10. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arrangedin their edges,- comprising incombination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by differential engagement with the difierently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, and extensions of said fingers in the form of broad plates in spaced relation to each other for collecting the sheets at separate points.

11. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by anglingthe portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, and a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus at their outer end portions and broadened somewhat at their inner end portions so as to overlap with respect to each other in slightly spaced face to face relation to each other and adapted by differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to: direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers.

12. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arrangedin their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus at their outer end portions and broadened somewhat at their inner end portions so as to overlap with respect to each other in slightly spaced face to face relation and adapted by differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to direct such'sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, and extensions of said fingers in the form of broad plates in spaced relation to each other and in angular position with respect to said fingers for collecting the sheets at separate points.

13. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, extensions of said fingers in the form of broad plates in spaced relation to each other with some of said plates deflected forwardly and some deflected backwardly for maintaining the desired spaced relation, and trays in operative receiving position below said plates for collecting the sheets at separate points.

14. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with I respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plu- .material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, and driven rotary members adaptedby engagement with the sheet near the free ends of the fingers to press the spread side portions of the sheet back into substantially the plane of the body of the sheet for causing the sheets to pass smoothly along their paths between the fingers.

16. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, and driven rollers in the form of brushes adapted by engagement with the sheet near the free ends of the fingers to press the spread side portions of the sheet back into substantially the plane of the body of the sheet for causing the sheets to pass smoothly along their paths between the fingers.

17. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, and driven rollers comprising face portions of plush adapted by the engagement of the nap with the paper between the fingers near the free ends of the'fingers to press the spread side portions of the sheet back into substantially the plane of the body of the sheet for causing the sheets to pass smoothly along their paths between the fingers.

18. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by difierential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into difierent spaces between adjacent fingers, and driven rollers in slightly spaced relation to said fingers adapted by engagement with a sheet to present the sheet to said fingers and to cause the sheets to advance along the fingers for delivery.

19. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits difierentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, and driven rollers in slightly spaced relation to said fingers comprising a metal roller and a sponge rubber roller adapted by engagement with the sheet to present the sheet to said fingers and to cause the sheets to advance along the fingers for delivery.

20. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the opposite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by differential engagement with the difierently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, a pair of driven rollers in slightly spaced relation to said fingers adapted by engagement with a sheet to present the sheet to said fingersand to causethe sheets to advance along the fingers, and a second pair of driven rollers in the form of brushes adapted by engagement with the sheet between the fingers near the free ends of the fingers to press the spread side portions of the sheet back into substantially the plane of the body of the sheet for causing the sheets to pass smoothly along their paths between the fingers.

21. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, means adapted by engagement with a sheet in its movement into the machine to spread the portions at opposite sides of the slit by angling the portion 'at one side of the slit with respect to the portion at the oppQsite side, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus adapted by difier-.

ential engagement with the difierently slitted sheets to direct such sheets into different spaces between adjacent fingers, rollers in the path of movement of a sheet into said machine adapted when stationary to stop a sheet in slightly spaced relation to said fingers and adapted when driven to present the sheet to said fingers and to cause the sheet to advance along the fingers for delivery, means for driving said rollers, and releasable means for stopping the rotation of said rollers at intervals.

22. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus and arranged in the path of movement of said sheets, means adapted when in operation to forward sheets to said fingers, means for driving said forwarding means, and means acting in timed relation to the operation of said forwarding means for pressing the portion of said sheet at one side of said slit into angularrelation to the portion at the opposite side of the slit for causing said fingers to have differential engagement with the difierently slitted sheets for directing the sheets into different spaces between said fingers.

23. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits difierentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the appa-- ratus, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus and arranged in the path of movement of said sheets, means adapted when in operation to forward sheets to said fingers, means for driving said forwarding means, and means acting in timed relation tothe operation of said forwarding means for pressing forwardly the portion of said sheet at one side of said slit and for pressing backwardly the portion of the sheet at the opposite side of said slit so as to cause said fingers to have differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets for directing the sheets into diiTerent spaces between adjacent fingers.

24. An apparatus for sorting pieces of sheet material having slits differentially arranged in their edges, comprising in combination means for directing such slitted sheets into the apparatus, a plurality of fingers in spaced relation to each other transversely of the apparatus and arranged in the path of movement of said sheets, a pair of rollers in slightly spaced relation to said fingers adapted when stationary to stop a sheet adjacent to said fingers and adapted when driven to forward the sheet to said fingers and to cause the sheet to advance along the fingers, means for driving said. rollers, releasable means for stopping the rotation of said rollers at intervals, and means acting in timed relation to the operation of said rollers for pressing the portion of the sheet at one side of the slit into angular position with respect to the portion of the sheet at the opposite side of the slit at about the time when the sheet reaches said fingers so as to cause said fingers to have differential engagement with the differently slitted sheets for directing the sheets into difierent spaces between adjacent fingers.

EDWIN HARRISON, is. 

